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Research in the United States and from around the world continues to support the systematic teaching of phonics as central to the understanding and mastery of any alphabetic writing system. Two reports, Teaching Reading: Report and Recommendations, National Inquiry into the Teaching of Literacy (http://www.dest.gov.au/nitl/documents/report_recommendations.pdf), a research-based report from the Australian Government, dated December 2005, and Independent Review of the Teaching of Early Reading, a report from the United Kingdom, dated March 2006 (https://www.education.gov.uk/ publications/eOrderingDownload/0201 -2006PDF-EN-01 .pdf), both highlight the need for these effective practices in the teaching of literacy.
The U.K. report also emphasizes the importance of effective teacher training and good teaching methods, stating, "We know that, to be effective, a high quality program must go hand in hand with high quality teaching." The Australian report calls for effective initial instruction to...